Ship info
The Norwegian Star cruise ship departs from Los Angeles,
CA and Vancouver, British Columbia. Throughout the year, she offers
ocean cruises to Alaska and Mexican Riviera.
Check Dates & Prices for cruises to Alaska
and Mexican Riviera.
Began service: November, 2001
Guest capacity: 2,240
Total staff: 1,100
Length: 965 feet
Passenger decks: 15
CDC
inspection score: 99
Norwegian Star Overview
I can tell, almost with certainty, what my experience will be like
from the moment I cross the threshold on a ship. When a smiling young
purser grabbed our carry-ons and led us to our room, joking along
the way with my mother, and when every staff member we passed offered
a cheery "hello, welcome aboard," I knew the eight days
we would spend aboard Norwegian Star would be stellar.
The Star is a big ship, custom-built for Freestyle
Cruising -- NCL's signature
program of "dine whenever you want, with whomever you choose."
It has 10 restaurants and 11 bars and lounges.
Family-friendly and handicap accessible, with public spaces that range
from intimate to exuberant, a stunning two-level spa and workout space,
activities and entertainment all day and night, and guest quarters
that range from standard inside cabins to the enormous 5,700-square-ft.
Garden Villas, this ship has something for everyone.
Cabins
Norwegian Star has a wide variety of cabin types which
range from standard insides to the two huge and elaborate Garden
Villas perched above the aft portion of the ship.
The standard rooms (all of them, except for those
designated as "suites"), are designed with a seating area
that can be converted (in most rooms) into another bed, and a "split
bathroom" configuration that has a small sink in the middle,
toilet on one side, and a nice-sized stall shower on the other, each
closed off by a sliding glass door. There is plenty of closet space
and drawers, a mirrored vanity, a writing table, a television and
a mini-fridge. Oddly, the only 110-volt plug is located at the vanity
area, which also has a nice salon-style hairdryer to use. If you intend
to bring a laptop, bring a set of converter plugs so you can plug
into the 220-volt outlets located by the writing tables.
Mini-suites have a large, elegant bathroom with tub,
a larger seating area, and elegant drapes, spreads and carpeting.
The full pull-across drape separating the seating area from the sleeping
area is double-lined, shutting out almost all light, and welcomed
by those who have alternate sleeping and waking schedules.
Hint: The closet in the mini-suites is located adjacent to the bed,
facing the center of the room. You have to reach sideways to access
the shelving since there is not a door that opens to that part of
the closet. It isn't an ideal design, but is made much easier when
you realize that there is a light in the closet. It's hidden almost
at eye-level, there is a little button at the back. The button is
visible in the dark since it emits a soft glow, but if you don't know
it's there, it makes the closet difficult to use.
Guests in mini-suites and above have a concierge
at their service; guests in Penthouse suites have
the added advantage of butler service.
Of the 36 suites on Star, two are
Garden Villas, 5,700 square ft., complete with private gardens,
saunas, hot tubs, three bedrooms, a living area, a pantry and butler
service. The others range from forward-facing Owner's Suites
with 740 square ft. of living space to a variety of Penthouse
suites, the ones at the aft corners having enormous wrap-around
verandahs. All of the suites (except mini-suites) have whirlpool bathtubs.
We particularly like the Penthouse suites located on the sides of
Deck 11, with a floor-to-ceiling one-way window in the bath next to
a whirlpool tub.
The 20 wheelchair-accessible rooms are available
as insides, or outsides with balcony.
Dining
Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered the concept of Freestyle
dining, with multiple large restaurants and intimate specialty
dining venues. Guests who prefer standard dining can notify the maitre
d' upon boarding and arrange to do just that. For the rest of us,
Freestyle offers flexibility that allows for a more relaxed dining
experience. There is also 24 hour room service in case you are too
exhausted from your day's activities to make it to any of the restaurants.
There are two main dining rooms for traditional-style dining, Aqua
and Versailles. Both serve the same menu items but
cooked slightly different, with Aqua adding a contemporary
flair to old traditions. There are several tables for two in each
restaurant, or you can ask to be seated with others if you prefer.
Two of the specialty restaurants, Endless Summer
(serving a Tex-Mex menu with items like ribs and burritos) and La
Trattoria (Italian pasta and pizza) require reservations
but no surcharge.
Ginza, specializing in Asian recipes, has a teppanyaki
bar that only seats 12 at one time, so make your reservations early
in the trip. There is also sushi bar with a mechanical "train"
that delivers a rotating assortment of sushi. Both are priced a la
carte; the main restaurant has a surcharge of $12.50.
Note: The sushi bar offers a $10 "all you can eat" special
but the variety is extremely limited. My mother and I ordered a
la carte, had the sushi rolls and sashimi that we really wanted,
ended up quite full, and paid a lot less than the $10 per person
charge for the special.
The SoHo Room serves an eclectic mix of items based
on Pacific Rim cuisine. The lamb with a pistachio
coating was so good that I regret not going back to that restaurant
for another round ... and everyone, just once, has to at least see
the tempura cake presentation. I opted for poached pears with mascarpone,
which was just light enough to keep me from exploding after such
a wonderful meal. The surcharge is $15.
Le Bistro, NCL's signature French restaurant (surcharge
$15, $20 if you get the surf and turf), specializes in Continental
dining. It is a small, dark, intimate, restaurant. The signature
dessert, a fruit and chocolate fondue, is so good that it's a shame
to leave it for last.
Cagney's Steakhouse is located at the top of the
ship and replicates a typical high-end steak-and-chop house, with
white linens and a clubby feel. The Star Bar, located
adjacent, is a nice place to sit before or after dinner, overlooking
the neon palms that line the pool area.
Blue Lagoon, the 24-hour dining spot, is wonderful
despite its limited menu.
The Bier Garten, located high above the pool deck,
serves Bavarian fare (wurst, pretzels) during the afternoon. It's
a great place to sit when it isn't too windy outside.
The Garden Cafe, the ship's buffet/cafeteria restaurant,
serves the usual breakfast and lunch fare, casual dinners, and light
snacks the rest of the day and night. Omelet and waffle stations
are available for breakfast, and at lunchtime, the port side becomes
a vegetarian station, with fresh salads, steamed vegetables, Indian,
and Middle Eastern dishes. That same port side is transformed into
La Trattoria at night, the pasta and pizza restaurant.
Room service is minimal with mostly cold items, sandwiches and salads
available 24 hours, and Continental breakfast ordered with a door-hung
card the night before.
Entertainment
As usual, the entertainment is wonderful. There is bingo, art auctions,
karaoke, and fantastic Jean Ann Ryan company production shows at
night in the Stardust Theater. The nightly shows
include magicians, comedians, production numbers, and a Cirque du
Soleil-type of gravity-defying extravaganza.
The ship also has a host of talented individual performers
who add to the ambiance of relaxation. Whether it's jazzy piano
cocktail music, boogie-woogie and 1940's standards, the Beatles,
calypso and reggae, salsa or classical, you can find it aboard Norwegian
Star. On its Mexican Riviera sailings, the Antonio
Remirez Folkloric Festival comes onboard during the ship's
lengthy stop in Acapulco.
Daytimes (and sea days) are made enjoyable with the many contests
and activities available on almost all of the public decks, including
movies in the Deck 12 theater, enrichment lectures
highlighting the history and cultures of the region, golf chipping
contests, and hairy legs contests at the pool (men only, please).
NCL has a "Star Search"/"American
Idol"-type program that allows guests to strut their
stuff and possibly win a cruise or a chance to appear as a performer
onboard one of the company's vessels.
The Ship 'N Males Review, which features service
personnel strip-teasing a la Chippendale's, is a fun night out for
the ladies. The best, though, is the staff and crew show, which
showcases the talents of the multinational employees with acts that
highlight their national heritage.
Fitness & Recreation
This ship is so long that it only takes three and a half
laps on the Deck 13 walking and jogging track to
make a mile. When you're done with your jog, you can flop into one
of the chaises which are close at hand.
The big pool has a pair of twisty slides, and hot tubs at each end.
There is an indoor lap pool in the Barong Spa,
40 feet long and 13 feet wide.
The well-equipped fitness center is open 24 hours, and has a large
variety of new weight training and cardio-vascular equipment, all
situated at the aft of Deck 12 looking over the
stern's wake.
The Mandara Spa is equipped with a lap pool, whirlpool,
a hydrotherapy pool, steam and sauna, plus a solarium with wicker
chaises and a terrific view. There are several treatment rooms where
you can get facials and massages, and a salon for hair and nails.
The spa special, a $59 sampler, is a great deal because it includes
a mini-facial, a scalp and neck massage, and a mini-back massage.
Elsewhere on the ship there are two golf cages, basketball, volleyball,
horseshoes and Ping-Pong. There are also classes in yoga, pilates,
spinning, aerobics, and toning, some of which cost $5 to $10.
Public Areas
Although this is a large vessel,
most of the bars, lounges and restaurants are centrally located
so you can just go steps from one to the other and have an immediate
change in atmosphere.
Decks 6 and 7 are home to the Carousel Lounge,
Pearl Martini Bar, Gatsby's Champagne Bar,
Wine Cellar, Havana Club (Cigar
Room) and the Star Club Casino. All of these areas
lead to the restaurants surrounding them, and to the Stardust
Theater.
Note: This ship, originally designed with Hawaiian itineraries in
mind, was built without a casino since they are not permitted in
Hawaiian waters. Dazzles Nightclub (in the original
design) was transformed into the current casino, with a variety
of table games and slots that range from nickel denominations to
one machine at $100.
The Java Cafe is located in the middle of the Grand
Atrium, serving specialty coffees at a la carte prices,
along with cookies and pastries, some at no charge. The Red
Lion Pub, with a fabulous singer of oldie pop standards,
is located just before the entrance to the supermarket-sized Galleria
Shops, which carry everything from logo items and toys
to the shipboard equivalent of haute couture.
Deck 12 holds the library and reading room, a card
room and a small chapel. There is a movie theater which doubles
as a conference/presentation room, and several rooms for business
activities or private functions. The Spinnaker Lounge
serves as an observation lounge, a room for daytime activities,
and a nightclub at night.
The Internet Center is located in a mezzanine and
is only accessible from two doorways located on Deck 9.
Packages can bring the Internet rate down to as low as .35 cents
per minute, with a $3.95 start-up charge. Wireless Internet service
is available for those with Wi-Fi-equipped laptops, or the center
will rent you a laptop or Wi-Fi card. "Hot spots" are
located in public spaces in the center of the ship but not in staterooms.
Almost all of the ship is wheelchair-accessible. Elevators have
buttons that are reachable by guests in wheelchairs and they "ding"
before they arrive so sight-impaired guests can find the one that
is opening; deck numbers are listed in Braille.
Smoking is limited to the port side on outside decks, the casino,
and to certain areas of bars and lounges. There is no smoking in
the Grand Atrium, in any of the restaurants, or
in the Stardust Theater.
Kids
This is a ship that is designed
for families, and its recent refurbishment added to the already
great amenities for kids and teens. On Deck 13,
at is Planet Kids, with activities for all age
groups through 12, including five computer stations, a movie theater,
a nursery and a playroom. Kids are welcomed from age two, and if
they aren't yet potty-trained, the parents will be issued a beeper
so they can be called when it's time to change a diaper.
Note: No diapers of any kind, including "swim"
diapers, are allowed in any of the pools.
On Deck 12, there is teens-only area, with a dance
floor, several computer stations and a living- room-like space for
mingling. Just across from this space is the Video Zone,
with several high-tech (and loud) video games. Behind the Barong
Fitness Center is the Splash Down Kid's Pool,
with two rocket-shaped slides, a wading pool and a hot tub. This
area is accessible to all, including adults.
Since meal times are flexible with Freestyle dining and there are
so many activities on the ship for everyone, children of all ages
can be happily accommodated. Mom and dad can have some alone time,
too, with Mom and Dad's Night Out, and group babysitting
is offered for a small hourly charge ($6 per child; must be planned
in advance).
Expert Norwegian Star reviews are edited by Michelle, and
provided by Ian and Cruise Critic.com, an award-winning cruise community.
This objective information can help you choose just the right ship
for your next cruise vacation.
Check Dates & Prices
for cruises to Alaska and Mexican Riviera.
Norwegian Star cruise
reviews
Cruise
Ship Inspection Report
All passenger cruise ships arriving at US ports are subject to unannounced
CDC inspection. Norwegian Star
Score: 99
Cruise
Critic: Norwegian Star
The Cruise Critic gives NCL's Norwegian Star a 3-ribbon rating.
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Request a brochure, or find a travel agent who represents Norwegian
Cruise Line at the company's official Web site.
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